@

The “At Sign”. Shift 2.

This symbol was added to most keyboards in the early 1900s and was primarily focused on financial applications. 7 widgets @ $2 produces a total sale of $14.

For decades the At Sign languished in near oblivion. Most often a “fat-finger” mistake for an exclamation point. The neighborhood was full of popular characters – $, %, *, !, ), (, and even # seemed to generate significantly more attention and accolades.

Patiently the @ waited… faithfully serving the community it was called to. Accountants and statisticians lauded the effectiveness and efficiency of the character – but few others noticed, understood or cared.

But all of this changed. The email tidal wave hit shore and the @ became a multi-purpose character without equal. Millions of times daily the @ points to electronic locations with faithful competence. Soon the popularity of @ grew with expanded use and esthetics. @ became a single letter improvement and a graphic companion for trendy titles and hip corporate names and logos. Then @ landed on the Twitter scene and the velocity of this techno-trajectory made shift-2 one of the most popular and culturally relevant keys on the board.

@ was ready. It had served with diligence and competence and efficiency. It simply wanted to do what it was called upon to do. There was no marketing or PR campaign – just functional delivery at its best and availability when demand emerged.

“But when you are invited (to a wedding feast), go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  ~ Luke 14:10-11 (ESV)

! and $ were seated. They had been highly esteemed – deservedly so… but then everything changed. @ was ready. @ was humble and available. Opportunity collided with availability and competence. A calling became a mission.

Patiently waiting; diligent in preparation; competent in service; available; ready…

At just the right time… perhaps when everyone seems to be fawning over the ! – opportunity – email – the Internet – Twitter – Facebook… @ was oblivious no longer.

Are you ready? Are you preparing? Are you humble enough to be mingled with hundreds of other characters? Placed functionally between a name and a location – serving with faithfulness – first to a few.

@ – “Friend, move up higher.”

~ and ^ be patient